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Archive for the ‘Home Decor’ Category
Thu, August 7, 2008 12:24 pm By James Coolridge
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Walls make our houses. They are the pillars, the strength and the most surfaced features in our house which reflect the warmth a home carries within its boundaries. One of the most effective ways to adorn these structures is to have a focused wall which helps define a room, giving it a unique personality of its own. Thus an accented wall can do this and much more. Let’s see how!
When you walk into a room without an accent wall, nothing in particular will stick out i.e. there’ll be nothing worth noticing or even or even if there is, it’ll not catch your eye. But by adding one distinct color, say a casual red wall with the rest a dark khaki, it will immediately push the eyes to your desired wall and naturally accentuate the artifacts or pictures lining the ambience. A fireplace is a great piece to have on the wall, as it is normally the anchor of a room. The most popular and effective uses of this is a living room with a red wall around the fireplace with a mantel holding candle stands and the like.
The catch however lies in choosing your focus wall which is quite simple. All you have to do is just find the wall with the main feature item on it, and choose that one to be the cynosure of the room. Ideally the wall chosen is most commonly in the room directly across from the entrance. Just identify this wall, add a splash of valiant color, and you instantly have something that stands out from the normal run-of-the-mill rooms. Once done, what you’ll see before will be no less that a regular girl being taken to a saloon and given a make-over.
Accented walls can be used in any room, from bedrooms to dining rooms; the idea is to grant a look that completely transforms the face of these surfaced structures. If you are considering the cost, let me tell you it is cheap, easy, and can be done in just a few hours.
The walls are like the bare skeletons that make a house. Hence it is for you to decide about what garb you will adorn it with to give it the most pleasing look ever!
Tags: Focused walls, accented walls
Wed, August 6, 2008 8:32 am By James Coolridge
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A crystal vase, pictures, artifacts, hangings – are all some random pieces of art we often pick from places distant and near to adorn the ambience of our homes. But only if you knew that placing the right thing at the right corner or creating a special space for a precious/ beautiful pieces of art, isn’t as easy s it seems.
Here are some insights that may help:
Placing art on a gallery ledge!
You can place pictures across the entire length of the ledge lifted on the wall at a considerable distance from the ground. In order to give unique style to the display, the pictures could be randomly arranged with some of them overlapping each other. The smaller ones should be placed in the front.
Lean it on the floor
This may sound quite unfamiliar to you but this can be one of the most creative ways to display art in your drawing room. This looks best if you have two or three pieces of some artifact, particularly complimenting each other, placed in a fashion that they lean over each other, slightly overlapped. The partial overlapping will bring out the contrast more effectively and will render an abstract look to the ambience.
Use ribbons to suspend artifacts!
Using ribbons to hang any piece of art, be it a picture, a wall hanging or an artifact, will invariably add a subtle look to your walls. Ribbons stand for grace and elegance. One thing that needs to be kept in mind is that since the displays will be hung with the help of ribbons, their weight ought to be light. Ribbons of different motifs or contrasting colors can be used. You may attach one or two pictures one above the other to the ribbons and just let it hang. Or you may fix one end of the ribbon at some point on the wall near the ceiling and loop the other end through both corners at the top of the picture. Thereafter, tie the remaining end of the ribbon back onto the main length of the ribbon and adjust the ribbon so that the portion supporting the picture looks like a triangle shaped hanger.
Release it with a hanging apparatus
There can be many other ways to suspend your artifacts. One of them can be mounting your art directly onto to the wall with the help of a hanging apparatus. This can be done by mounting a horizontal bar against the wall close to the ceiling. Now tie one end of the rope to each corner of the picture and knot the other end around the horizontal bar. Each of your pictures should be supported with 2 ropes. This’ll help you hang 2 or 3 pictures next to each other, making it look like a contemporary art gallery installation.
Thus we see that there can be numerous ways of displaying a particular piece of art. It is all about thinking out of the box, to try and undo the cliché and invent unique spaces for every piece that you have, so that every artifact/picture has its own beautiful story to tell.
Tags: Display art, the art of displaying, wall hangings, picture placement.
Sat, July 12, 2008 1:07 pm By James Coolridge
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Candles are a rage in home décor and many a times our favorite rug or carpet is damaged with the dripping wax. No need to worry now coz you can remove the wax without damaging your rug. Here’s how:
So you have tried scrubbing, washing and even scratching but nothing seems to be working. Don’t worry; just take out your iron box and a couple of sheets of old newspaper to get the job done. This may sound strange, but it surely works!
Firstly, heat your iron up, just as if you are going to iron your shirt. Keep the sheets of old newspaper handy. Once the iron gets warmed up, place the newspaper sheets on the spot with the stain. Keep few sheets around the stain too. This will prevent you from burning other materials around you.
As you continue the process, you will notice that the wax is being absorbed into the sheets of newspaper. Slowly, wax will completely come out of your carpet.
Tags: Carpet, Candle, Wax, Remove, Renovation
Tue, June 24, 2008 6:41 pm By James Coolridge
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Fireplace is a great idea for cold winter nights. They add warmth, an extra dimension and a sense of style to your home. Add a fireplace mantel above the fireplace to store and flaunt your precious items.
Installing a fireplace is perhaps a daunting task, at the same time a big decision. You need to find the right location, ventilation and ensure that there are all kinds of safety aspects at the space where you want to install fireplace. Hence, you will need a professional to install fireplace for your home. All this will definitely cost you hefty sum.
First, consider which type of fireplace you want to install at your home. Generally, two kinds of fireplaces are installed at homes. One is gas fireplace and the other one is electric fireplace. Both of them offer you similar features except the obvious difference. Whatever your choice is, you should consider the safety aspects and the functionality of the fireplace.
If indoor fireplace is not what you desire, here is another option- what about an outdoor fireplace? Well, this is a bright idea because they are gaining immense popularity and are found even at an average home improvement store. They come in various styles and sizes.
Tags: Lighting, fireplace, decoration, Cozy
Tue, June 24, 2008 6:38 pm By James Coolridge
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Lighting can make a huge difference in the ambience and looks of your home and when it comes to choosing the lighting fixtures, the versatile crystal chandelier is a wise choice. As it changes the style of your room, crystal chandelier will also set the mood of your room.
Crystal chandeliers come in different sizes, colors, looks and finishes that will perfectly fit for your chosen part in your home. Crystal chandeliers are one of the “wow” factors in your home décor that can magnetically attract your visitors!
Crystal chandelier is traditionally hung on the entrance way or dining area of a home. But now, it can be used in almost every part of your home, even inside your bathroom! (This clearly shows its versatility!). The chandelier will in fact make your room more appealing. So, hang a crystal chandelier any part of your home, say, your bedroom, living room, dining room or kitchen.
If you notice the ceilings to be plain and dull, hang up a crystal chandelier. This will in turn have an advantageous effect in your home. The crystal chandelier will bring out magical and enticing colors that will make your home look awful.
So when you have decided to buy a couple of crystal chandeliers to decorate your home, consider the style of the lighting fixture you want and the motif of your home. Make sure that the crystal chandelier matches up the theme of your room and also looks beautiful and elegant.
Now, keep in mind the style of the crystal chandelier that you want to hang up and then search online for the designs and patterns that match your taste.
Finally when you have purchased the desired crystal chandelier, keep it clean and free from dust and dirt. This will retain the shine and elegance of your chandelier.
Deep cleaning of the lighting fixture is required every now and then. Use a handled duster for regular cleaning. Be extra cautious when you carry out deep cleaning. Take good care of your crystal chandelier and make your home appealing and beautiful.
Tags: Chandeliers, Crystal, Living, Room, Beautiful
Mon, June 23, 2008 6:20 pm By James Coolridge
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Everyone wants their home to be a safe haven and the most comfortable and inviting place on Earth. In this article, we provide you the solutions for frequently asked questions about how to decorate home for comfort.
What is meant by “comfort at home”?
Comfort of a place depends on its functionality. For instance, if it is your living room, comfort is not just limited to plush sofas. It is equally applicable to the walls and lighting of your room. Your living room will be comfortable and cozier if the walls of the room are painted with colors that are appealing, furniture that are comfortable enough to sit back and relax and decorative items and lighting fixtures that gel with the theme of your room.
What Colors Are Good For comfort Decorating?
Color on the walls plays a crucial role in setting the mood of a room. Yellows, terra cotta and peaches are warm, welcoming, romantic and embracing. Red color is best for a cozier atmosphere but is a bit formal. Pastels are the popular choice. For the cool atmosphere, go for the shades of blues that are fresh, clean and cool.
Which type of flooring is the best for comfort at home?
Carpet is the best flooring because it brings warmth, color and texture to the room. Carpet flooring instantly converts a cold-looking room into a safe haven. It also cuts down large amounts of noise, giving you a sense of privacy and security.
What are the decorative elements that can make my home a comfortable place?
Fresh flowers on the coffee table, decorative mirrors on the wall and scented candles give your home a nice and welcoming aroma.
The meaning of comfort may be different for different people. However, on a broader term, the word comfort at home means a place that is comfortable to sit, sleep, relax and secures the residents of the home.
Tags: Home, comfort, decorating, Improvement
Sun, June 22, 2008 6:27 pm By James Coolridge
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Accessorizing home interiors is the current trend in interior home décor. Beautiful fixtures, wall hangings, statuettes, table lamps etc. are considered to be the latest fad in interior décor. You can also personalize the theme of your home by coordinating the accessories with the color of the walls, furnishings and floorings. Here in this article, we provide you accessorizing tips for your home furnishing.
Bathroom: Bathroom is considered to be the place of relaxation after a day’s hectic work. Whether your bathroom is a luxurious one or reflects a simple theme, accessories such as shimmering fixtures, mirrors, accentuate the theme of your bathroom. They come in incredible colors, designs, shapes and sizes. All you need to do is buy some accessories that complement the color and theme of your bathroom. The soap dispensers, soap dishes, toothbrush holders, towel bars, hooks, waste basket and toilet brush sets should completely gel with the theme of your bathroom.
Living room: Fill up the space in the empty walls of your living room by hanging contemporary wall paintings. Accentuate the lighting of your living room by beautiful designer lighting fixtures and open up the space of your living room by placing beautiful mirrors on the walls.
Tags: accessories, Fixtures, fitting, decorating
Tue, June 17, 2008 3:47 pm By Jeff Chan
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Air- Conditioner- yester-years’ icon of luxury- has become a basic necessity of every household. The rising global warming on Earth has resulted in the growing use of Air Conditioners (AC).
Air conditioners are broadly classified into three types- window mounted, wall mounted and free-standing portable air conditioners. In this article, we are talking about split air conditioners (the wall-mounted types) and the things to keep in mind while purchasing the same. Read on.
Size: The size of split air conditioner depends upon the size of your room. Let us take the case of a 35 sq. ft. area. This will need 0.75-ton split air conditioner. A two-ton AC will be suited for a room size of around 250 sq. ft.
Zones: The choice of a split air conditioner also depends upon the number of rooms that require the cool breeze of the AC. For example, if your home consists of multiple rooms, you should choose dual zone or triple zone split air conditioner. The basic concept is the number of air handles that are required to cool a room. Go for one air handle split air conditioner if it is an open area that has multiple rooms in it.
Tubing: Tubing is an additional component that ensures smooth working of a split air conditioner. Tubing acts as a connector between the indoor and outdoor units. Purchase this component from the market, keeping in mind the distance between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.
Installation cost: You should not forget to include the cost of installation of the split air conditioner. Installing a split air conditioner is more complicated than a installing a window AC. Call on a professional to install the split air conditioner properly.
Tags: air conditioner, Split, AC, Installation, Cost, Weight
Tue, June 17, 2008 3:45 pm By James Coolridge
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Do you want to have a unique library case for your home? If yes, then combine your efforts with a little bit of creativity to install recycled cabinets that will accentuate the book nook of your home. Here is one of the methods to make recycled cabinets for bookshelves. Read on.
First of all, find the perfect nook of your home for the book shelf. May be a south window will be the best corner to enjoy reading, catching the warmth of the sun rays. You can also choose the northern side windows of your home where the light is less intense and glaring on the eyes.
Next, choose a design. Keep it simple, ‘coz simple is sober! You can either use reclaimed cabinets or the inexpensive ready made versions.
We say that the ideal window should be at least 30-40 inches off the floor. If it is higher than this, the bookcase seating may not be properly lit and if it is slightly below the ideal height, the seat may not support your back very well.
The whole idea is to have bookcases on either sides of the window and a seat in between the two. This will provide a great book nook to sit back, relax and read some books. Remember, a “nook” is created only when both the cabinet shelves are taller than the seat. So, look for a pair of long narrow cabinets that creates the desired effect of a book nook.
When you have got the desired book nook, make sure that the bookshelf has all the safety features. The fully loaded bookshelves should not topple forward. Hence, special consideration should be for the durability of the bookshelves. The book nook should not be fastened on the wall. The upper shelves must be stable to withstand heavier books. The bookshelves should have strong foundation.
Tags: cabinets, Recycled, back, panels, books, bookshelves
Mon, June 16, 2008 3:45 pm By James Coolridge
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The décor of your guest room should have an indelible impression on your guests. You should be prepared to receive the surprise visitors who may stay overnight or longer. Show the guest your hospitality by decorating the room in the perfect way, as to make the atmosphere in the room cozy and the space, worth staying. In this article, we provide you the ideas for a perfect guest room.
The areas of the room to be concentrated include the walls, flooring, furniture, walls, and most importantly, the color scheme of the guest room. Let us move step by step.
Walls:
Carefully examine walls of the room. Is the paint looking dull? Does the wallpaper need to be replaced? If yes is said then search for a paint, if you want to paint the walls. Remember that warm or neutral colors create the cozy atmosphere in a room. When it comes to wallpaper, go for a soft pattern with a simple border. This will look simple, but sober.
Flooring:
Hardwood flooring is the best option for a cozy room. We would suggest you to get the flooring done in hardwood at the time of renovation. Place an area rug to give a warm touch. If floor is carpeted, then replace the worn out carpet. If the carpet is stained, get it cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner.
Color scheme:
The color of the walls should co-ordinate the color of the furniture, the curtains, bed sheets as well as the throw pillows. The color scheme should be unified and elegant which will please your guests and make them feel comfortable to stay in the room.
Storage space:
Your guest room should have enough storage space for the visitor(s) clothing and personal items. Keep the drawers organized. Provide them a closet as to hang their clothes.
Small details can create bigger impact on your guests as well as the room. The perfect guest room should make them feel like they are home away from home!
Tags: color, storage, bed, space, Room, Cozy, light, décor
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